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Prolonged exposure to sun radiation may result in harmful skin photoaging. Therefore, discovering novel anti-photoaging treatment modalities is critical. An active component isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B), is a robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. This investigation aimed to discover the therapeutic impact and pathways of salvianolic acid B for UVB-induced skin photoaging, an area that remains unexplored. We conducted in vitro experiments on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed to UVB radiation, assessing cellular senescence, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, cell viability, proliferation, migration, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial health. The potential mechanism of Sal-B was analyzed using RNA sequencing, with further validation through Western blotting, PCR, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) silencing methods. In vivo , a model of skin photoaging induced by UVB in nude mice was employed. The collagen fiber levels were assessed utilizing hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson, and Sirus red staining. Additionally, NRF2 and related gene and protein expression levels were identified utilizing PCR and Western blotting. Sal-B was found to significantly counteract photoaging in UVB-exposed skin fibroblasts, reducing aging-related decline in fibroblast proliferation and an increase in apoptosis. It was observed that Sal-B aids in protecting mitochondria from excessive ROS production by promoting NRF2 nuclear translocation. NRF2 knockdown experiments established its necessity for Sal-B's anti-photoaging effects. The in vivo studies also verified Sal-B's anti-photoaging efficacy, surpassing that of tretinoin (Retino-A). These outcomes offer novel insights into the contribution of Sal-B in developing clinical treatment modalities for UVB-induced photodamage in skin fibroblasts. In this investigation, we identified the Sal-B protective impact on the senescence of dermal fibroblasts and skin photoaging induced by radiation of UVB. The outcomes suggest Sal-B as a potential modulator of the NRF2 signaling pathway. 1). Salvianolic acid B protects from skin aging caused by UVB via NRF2 activation in vitro and in vivo. 2). NRF2 is necessary for salvianolic acid B to exert anti-photoaging effects. Created with BioRender.com [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of new formylpiperazine-based ferroptosis inhibitors was designed and synthesized. • These derivatives were evaluated for their effects against Erastin-induced ferroptosis HUVECs. • Compound 26 to have better anti-ferroptosis activity and microsomal stability than Fer-1. • Compound 26 is a promising lead compound for treating ferroptosis-related vascular diseases. In this study, a series of new formylpiperazine-derived ferroptosis inhibitors were designed and synthesized based on the structure of a known ferroptosis inhibitor, ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). The anti-ferroptosis activity of these synthetic compounds in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by Erastin was evaluated. It was found that some of the new compounds, especially compound 26 , showed potent anti-ferroptosis activity, as evidenced by its ability to restore cell viability, reduce iron accumulation, scavenge reactive oxygen species, maintain mitochondrial membrane potential, increase GSH levels, decrease LPO and MDA content, and upregulate GPX4 expression. Moreover, compound 26 exhibited superior microsomal stability than Fer-1. The present results suggest that compound 26 is a promising lead compound for the development of new ferroptosis inhibitors for the treatment of vascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of cyclic stretch-induced periodontal ligament cell (PDLC) exosomes on osteoblast differentiation, and to explore their regulatory role in mechanical force-related periodontal tissue remodeling. After applying 20 % cyclic stretch loading to PDLCs, exosomes were extracted from the supernatant and co-cultured with osteoblasts to detect their effects on osteogenic differentiation. Meanwhile, the exosomes were sequenced by high-throughput microRNA sequencing for bioinformatic analysis and validation to explore exosome signaling pathways through miRNAs. Cyclic stretch-induced PDLC exosomes could be taken up by osteoblasts and promoted osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts, as demonstrated by the increased expression levels of osteogenesis-related factors and enhanced alkaline phosphatase (Alp) staining. Among the differentially expressed miRNAs between exosomes from cyclic stretch group and control group, miRNA-181d-5p was up-regulated significantly. The expression levels of osteogenesis-related factors and Alp staining were also increased in osteoblasts transfected with miR-181d-5p, and this effect might be related to the inhibitory role of exosomal miR-181d-5p on tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Cyclic stretch-induced PDLC exosomes exhibited a promoting effect on osteogenic differentiation, which might result from the inhibition of TNF via exosomal miR-181d-5p. • Stretch-induced periodontal ligament cell exosomes promoted osteogenic differentiation. • Exosome miR-181d-5p might contribute to this effect. • Inhibitory effect of exosomal miR-181d-5p on TNF might be potential mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1) overexpression has been confirmed in different malignancies and found to be strongly associated with tumor development and progression. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of HABP1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. Method HABP1 expression was evaluated in 89 PDAC specimens. Results The expression of HABP1 was significantly higher in tumor tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues. High nucleus HABP1 expression and high cytoplasm HABP1 expression were both detected in PDAC tissues. Overall survival analysis by optical density showed that the mean survival was similar between patients with low and high optical density values of HABP1 expression (P = 0.312). The similar result was also found between patients with low-moderate or high nucleus HABP1 expression (P = 0.275). However, the mean survival was significantly poorer in patients with cytoplasm HABP1 overexpression (P < 0.001). High cytoplasm HABP1 expression was strongly correlated with late tumor stages, arterial involvement, lymph node metastasis and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels. Conclusion High cytoplasm HABP1 expression may prove to be a predictor of poor survival and late tumor stage in PDAC patients. HABP1 could serve as a promising biomarker to identify subsets of PDAC patients with high malignant clinical behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Particle swarm algorithm is used to inversely optimize the alloy composition according to target performance. • An optimized feature set including 3 features is obtained by GA, interpretable ML and solid-solution strengthening. • A general design framework is summarized for prediction and composition optimization of various HEA performances. Two data-driven machine learning (ML) models were proposed for the hardness prediction of high-entropy alloys (HEA) and the composition optimization of high hardness HEAs, respectively. The hardness prediction model combined interpretable ML methods with solid solution strengthening theory, and the R 2 and RMSE values of 0.9716 and 39.2525 were respectively achieved under the leave-one-out validation method. The optimization model adopted an intelligent optimization algorithm to design the optimized elemental molar ratios of high hardness HEAs and was experimentally verified. A general design framework was summarized for prediction and composition optimization of various HEA performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia as a single liability model was confronted to the multiple psychotic phenotypes model proposed by the Wernicke-Kleist-Leonhard school, focusing on two: periodic catatonia (PC) and cataphasia (C). Both are stable and heritable psychotic phenotypes with no crossed liability and are coming with the buildup of specific residual symptoms: impairment of psychomotricity for PC and a specific disorganization of thought and language in C. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was used as a biomarker. We attempted to refute the single phenotype model by looking at relevant and specific rCBF anomalies for PC and C, that would exceed anomalies in common relative to controls (CTR), i.e. looking for a double dissociation. Twenty subjects with PC, 9 subjects with C and 27 matched controls had two MRI QUIPSS-II arterial spin labeling sequences converted in rCBF. One SPM analysis was performed for each rCBF measurement and the results were given as the conjunction of both analysis. There was a clear double dissociation of rCBF correlates between PC and C, both being meaningful relative to their residual symptomatology. In PC: rCBF was increased in the left motor and premotor areas. In C: rCBF was decreased bilaterally in the temporo-parietal junctions. Conversely, in both (schizophrenia): rCBF was increased in the left striatum which is known to be an anti-psychotics' effect. This evidence refuts the single schizophrenia model and suggests better natural foundations for PC and C phenotypes. This pleads for further research on them and further research on naturally founded psychotic phenotypes. Clinical trial Name of the registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Identification: NCT02868879 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the thermal characteristics of sewage sludge and the transformation behavior of Pb and Cd during the thermal conversion process were addressed. The incineration process and pyrolysis process of the sewage sludge were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicated that the thermal conversion process of the sewage sludge could be divided into three stages and the presence of oxygen could accelerate the decomposition of the sewage sludge. Furthermore, the effects of thermal conditions on the concentration ratio of Cd and Pb and their species partitioning in the residual char and ash were investigated. For the pyrolysis process, the maximum concentration ratio of Cd reached 41.64% at 500 °C and the lowest one 2.92% at 700 °C. Contrary, the concentration ratio of Pb remained above 93% as the temperature increased. Thus, the suitable temperature for the sewage sludge pyrolysis was below 500 °C. For the incineration process, the incineration temperature had great influence on the concentration ratio of Cd and Pb. When the incineration temperature increased from 700 °C to 900 °C, the concentration ratio of Cd decreased drastically from 99.32% to 10.96%. The maximum concentration ratio for Pb (95.31%) was reached at 800 °C. Besides, the lowest concentration ratio of Cd and Pb were obtained at a residence time of 30 min. The partitioning analyses of the Cd and Pb contained in the ash showed that the residence time had little effect on the partitioning of Cd and Pb, and the residual fractions of Cd and Pb were both above 90%. It was concluded that Cd and Pb were properly stabilized in the ash. Thus, Cd and Pb in the ash were difficult to be released into the environment and to cause secondary pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Smart Sensing Garment-SSG was developed for monitoring body postures based on FBG and Bend sensors. A FBG smart belt was fabricated mainly by embedding FBG sensors inside a special silica gel and a related smart garment was proposed by stitching flex sensors inside garment surface. Both the smart belt and SSG were calibrated in laboratory by systematically changing body postures. The smart garment was then used to monitor body postures at various joint positions of one male subject. It is found that FBG sensors mounted at the joint positions of palm, wrist, and elbow show reasonable and persistent wavelength changes for each step by step angle change. The bend sensors mounted inside the SSG exhibited linear rise as the increase of joint angles at the positions of palm, wrist and elbow. Static tests and Jogging tests were conducted in laboratory to examine the performance of the smart sensing garment at various static and kinematic postures. The measured data from bend sensors show that the instant movement of a male subject can be successfully detected by a SSG. Combination of the two technologies (FBG and Bend Sensors) can be used to investigate the change of body postures arise from the different diseases such as stroke and bone fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an important technology for 3D printing and can be used for rapidly production of functional parts. This paper presents a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based sensing platform fabricated using FDM method. This sensing platform include a number of pressure sensing components fabricated by layering of extruded Polylactic Acid (PLA) materials. FBG sensors were fixed at center of each sensing component for pressure measurement. Performance of the sensing system was calibrated by applying step by step load on FBG pressure sensors. After calibration, this sensing platform was used to monitor plantar pressure distribution arise from weight gaining and losing processes of a female subject. It is found that plantar pressure of heel is almost twice the pressure magnitudes of both the first and second metatarsus (fore-foot), while there is limited pressure at the mid-foot position during weight gaining process. Pressures of the two metatarsus areas are around 50% (pressure ratio) of heel position and decrease continuously as the increase of subject weight, but weight losing process has very limited influence on this pressure ratio. Center of gravity of this female subject was also found to shift backward substantially during weighting gaining process. Therefore, protection of the heel position is highly important during both weight gaining and losing processes due to the presence of significant pressure concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 58 toxic differential metabolites were identified from testis using UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS. • Glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism were key pathways in TGT-induced reproductive toxicity. • Cytotoxicity of 19 components in TGT was assessed using TM3 and TM4 cell lines. • CYP19A1, PIK3CA, and PIK3CG were potential targets of TGT for reproductive toxicity. Tripterygium glycoside tablets (TGT) is the most common preparation from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, which is widely used in clinical for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases. However, its serious reproductive toxicity limits its application. This study aimed to elucidate the toxic effects of TGT on the reproductive system of male RA rats and its potential toxic components and mechanism. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established, and TGT suspension was given at low, medium, and high doses. Gonadal index, pathological changes, and the number of spermatogenic cells were used to evaluate the toxic effects of TGT on the reproductive system. Non-targeted metabolomics of testicular tissue was conducted by UHPLC-QTOF/MS. Combined with network toxicology, the key targets of TGT-induced reproductive toxicity were screened and RT-qPCR was used to validation. In vitro toxicity of 19 components of TGT was evaluated using TM3 and TM4 cell lines. Molecular docking was used to predict the interaction between toxic components and key targets. TGT reduced testicular and epididymis weight. Pathology analysis showed a lot of deformed and atrophic spermatogenic tubules. The number of spermatogenic cells decreased significantly (P <0.0001). A total of 58 different metabolites including platelet-activating factor (PAF), lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI), glutathione (GSH), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were identified by testicular metabolomics. Glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and glutathione metabolism were key pathways responsible for the reproductive toxicity of TGT. Ten key reproductive toxicity targets were screened by network toxicology. The cytotoxicity test showed that triptolide, triptonide, celastrol, and demethylzeylasteral could significantly reduce the viability of TM3 and TM4 cells. Alkaloids had no apparent toxic effects. Molecular docking showed that the four toxic components had a good affinity with 10 key targets. All binding energies were less than -7 kcal/mol. The RT-qPCR results showed the Cyp19a1 level was significantly up-regulated. Pik3ca and Pik3cg levels were significantly down-regulated. Through testicular metabolomics, we found that TGT may cause reproductive toxicity through CYP19A1, PIK3CA, and PIK3CG three target, which was preliminarily revealed. This study laid the foundation for elucidating the toxicity mechanism of TGT and evaluating its safety and quality. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed optical fiber sensors (DOFS) have been attracted significant attention from geotechnical engineering communities for a few decades. Innovative development of structural design, encapsulation and implementation methods of optical fiber sensors leads to many new applications in geotechnical monitoring field. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Brillouin based DOFS for health monitoring of various geotechnical structures include geotextiles, soil nails, anchors, pipelines, piles, retaining walls, tunnels, and landslides. Recent application status of using two successful commercialized technologies including Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (BOTDR) and Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) for geotechnical health monitoring was reviewed and discussed in details. Particular emphasis was given to sensor design, encapsulation, and installation methods of DOFS in various successful geotechnical applications. Comparison analysis regarding typical advantages and limitations of different technologies (DOFS, fiber Bragg grating sensors, and conventional sensors) for geotechnical health monitoring was also presented and discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new phenanthrene derivatives: 9-ethoxy-7-methoxy-aristololactam IV (1) , norcepharadione A N - β - d -glucopyranoside (2) , aristololactamoside I (3) , aristololactamoside II (4) and aristothiolactoside (5) together with eleven known phenanthrene derivatives ( 6 – 16 ) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the roots and rhizomes of Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum . The aristololactams with substitution of ethoxy at C-9 position ( 1 , 9 , and 10 ) and the sulfur-containing phenanthrene derivative ( 5 ) were reported in the genus Asarum for the first time. Furthermore, six phenanthrene glucoside derivatives ( 2 – 5 , 13 and 14 ) were also found in this genus for the first time and compounds 7 and 9 – 15 were isolated from the genus Asarum for the first time. Six of them ( 1 , 2 , 9 , 10 , 13 and 14 ) were submitted to cytotoxicity test against human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell lines (HK-2) using MTT and LDH assays. Compounds 1 and 10 showed significant cytotoxic activity against HK-2 cell lines with IC 50 values of 18.18 and 20.44 μmol/L in MTT assay and 84.36 and 35.06 μmol/L in LDH assay, respectively. Compound 9 showed moderate cytotoxicity in MTT assay with IC 50 values of 95.60 μmol/L, but no cytotoxicity in LDH assay. Compounds 2 , 13 and 14 showed cytotoxic effect in neither MTT assay nor LDH assay. Considering the other nephrotoxic phenanthrene derivatives ( 6 , 8 , 12 , 15 and 16 ) previously tested, the results implied the potency of renal toxicity of this herb used as a medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important epigenetic regulator, histone lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has become an attractive target for the discovery of anticancer agents. In this work, a series of tranylcypromine-based derivatives were designed and synthesized. Among them, compound 12u exhibited the most potent inhibitory potency on LSD1 (IC 50 = 25.3 nM), and also displayed good antiproliferative effects on MGC-803, KYSE450 and HCT-116 cells with IC 50 values of 14.3, 22.8 and 16.3 μM, respectively. Further studies revealed that compound 12u could directly act on LSD1 and inhibit LSD1 in MGC-803 cells, thereby significantly increasing the expression levels of mono-/bi-methylation of H3K4 and H3K9. In addition, compound 12u could induce apoptosis and differentiation, inhibit migration and cell stemness in MGC-803 cells. All these findings suggested that compound 12u was an active tranylcypromine-based derivative as a LSD1 inhibitor that inhibited gastric cancer. [Display omitted] • Novel tranylcypromine-based derivatives were designed and synthesized. • Compound 12u showed low nanomolar IC 50 value against LSD1 and high selectivity for MAO-A and MAO-B. • Compound 12u suppressed LSD1 and induced the accumulation of H3K4 Me1/2 and H3K9 Me2/3. • Compound 12u induced apoptosis and differentiation, and inhibited migration and cell stemness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]